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[OldJadedGamer]

Do Panasonic, Samsung, and LG also make 3D TVs to help out Sony Pictures?

Nope, but obviously Sony has bigger interests to sell 3D movie machines than any other maker. Like putting in 3D to their games because they need to sell 3D TVs. Even if all other makers stopped making 3D sets, Sony would continue because it has to protect their other divisions interests.

 

[H_Prestige]

Nope, but obviously Sony has bigger interests to sell 3D movie machines than any other maker. Like putting in 3D to their games because they need to sell 3D TVs. Even if all other makers stopped making 3D sets, Sony would continue because it has to protect their other divisions interests.

Sony have other interests as well, but their main motive behind 3D is the same as everyone else. It's a cheap gimmick that allows them to sell higher margin TVs.

 

[Lactose_Intolerant]

Eh, the 360 moved me away from the PS line. I was never a big console supporter to begin with, but I see myself going with MS again next gen. I think the fact that it launched first took the wind out of Sonys sails to be honest.

I won't get a microsoft console unless they have games I must play. Most of the games I play are on pc anyways, so I can get 360 ports for most games too. I can't use a controller for fps games so that influences my judgement.

I think PS line has a bigger difference of exclusives because of their Japanese division and relationship with other Japanese developers.

All these reasons makes me more inclined to get a ps4 unless its just horrible and has crappy games.

 

[BARKSTAR]

Sony have other interests as well, but their main motive behind 3D is the same as everyone else. It's a cheap gimmick that allows them to sell higher margin TVs.

Have you ever played Super Stardust HD in 3D? A cheap gimmick would be something that is just crap but this experience is anything but. I have a feeling once they get the glasses free TV's up to an acceptable standard, many people will be watching movies and playing games using this 'cheap gimmick'.

 

[Phuturephunk]

I just want more Pixeljunk titles.

 

[Fezan]

I really hope Sony can turn things around for the better as I think they produce some superb stuff but I do know they make many mistakes and need to sort themselves out in many areas.

But I find so many opinions on here about how Samsung run rings around Sony, how Sony have lost it and how Sony TV's are overpriced (although with some models I do agree) but I think many people just seem to have jumped onto the bandwagon of bashing the company these days.

In the past year, Sony have launched some superb digital cameras that are packed with features and many models offer superb or even best in class image quality. Also the compact DSLR style NEX-7 camera is an absolutely superb piece of equipment proving that Sony can still produce some of the old magic.

The walkman range continues to produce superb sound quality and comes with a better set of headphones than anything that comes with the equivalent i-pods out there.

I also think their first tablet was very impressive and has a great number of features and software that, along with the design, offers a very compelling entry into the market. Be interesting to see what they come up with the second time around.

The PS3 continues to impress me to this day and Sony have updated it through firmware to implement many superb features that I would never have expected to have emerged. The Vita is also an impressive piece of hardware.

It's the constant bashing on their TV range that I don't understand. Over here in the UK the consensus is that the Samsung D8000 puts anything in the Sony range to shame. I have always owned Sony TV's and was set on buying the new HX923 (929) as I thought it would be the one to beat. But then the reviews etc of the Samsung came in so I thought I would check it out for myself and even for the first time, maybe walk away from the Sony brand.

I was lucky enough to be able to try the D8000 and the 923 side by side and also test them in very low light. The 923 had better black levels, performed much better in low light (the Samsung had worse blacks and some distracting light bleed), and motion and colour was also handled better on the Sony. The Sony also very easily had the better build quality of the two TV's.

The weird thing is that this Samsung consistently reviews better than the Sony every time but reviewers seem to miss all these issues despite me seeing them? I know I have a very fussy eye but I find this all very strange. You just even need to check the online forums over here to see that most people agree with me regarding these two models. The D8000 is obviously a nice TV with a very appealing design but in no way was it better than the HX923. I think Samsung seem to be attracting a very similar fan base to the likes of the hardcore Apple fan that can see no wrong in any of the products.

Agree with this post beside tablet thing!
also i recently bought a cheap Sony Bravia KDL-32CX520 tv which was priced same as samsung tv had better build and almost have all the feature of samsung also got free wall mount stand.
similarly my sony mp3 player has outstanding quality and you can feel the the difference in quality of sound between it and ipod

 

[Totobeni]

I just want more Pixeljunk titles.

Sony don't own Pixeljunk IP ( Q-games does), so you will be fine even if Sony dies.

 

[Miles X]

They could use some good exclusives. Other than that, you're right.

Nice for gamers, but no, they don't need them as they've unfortunately demonstrated.

 

[impact]

Nice for gamers, but no, they don't need them as they've unfortunately demonstrated.

Eh, it could help them in territories other than the US. It's actually a surprise when 360 outsells the PS2 in Japan.

 

[bigtroyjon]

Eh, it could help them in territories other than the US. It's actually a surprise when 360 outsells the PS2 in Japan.

The PS2 and PS3 success in Japan has little to nothing to do with 1st party exclusives so how would Sony games somehow help Microsoft?

 

[OldJadedGamer]

The PS2 and PS3 success in Japan has little to nothing to do with 1st party exclusives so how would Sony games somehow help Microsoft?

It is odd to mention as most of Sony's biggest first party titles don't even sell to a Japanese audience.

 

[zomgbbqftw]

The PS2 and PS3 success in Japan has little to nothing to do with 1st party exclusives so how would Sony games somehow help Microsoft?

Indeed. Sony's biggest first party game in Japan was GT, but even that has failed them now. I don't see them reversing this trend any time soon either. They don't control any of the big Japanese franchises (FF, KH, DQ, MH, Mario) and I don't see them getting control of any of those soon.

 

[zomgbbqftw]

Just a reminder for anyone who is interested:

http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/info/strategy2012/index.html

The call starts at 5pm Japan time, so around 4am EST, but the presentation notes (slides outlining the strategy) will be available 2h earlier, and I honestly can't see Kaz going off message in his first ever call as CEO.

9am London time, I'll be listening at work...

 

[Nilaul]

Nintendo will buy Sony's Gaming devisions and leave the rest to bleed.

 

[Tookay]

Have you ever played Super Stardust HD in 3D? A cheap gimmick would be something that is just crap but this experience is anything but. I have a feeling once they get the glasses free TV's up to an acceptable standard, many people will be watching movies and playing games using this 'cheap gimmick'.

But it isn't at that state, so his point still stands. And while I love the 3D on my 3DS, 3D tech isn't a gamechanger, especially outside of a gaming context (ie the large portion of TV purchasers).

 

[Flatline]

Haven't they restructured their TV business a million times? I think it's time to either bail out of it or reduce it by much more.

 

[Totobeni]

Nintendo will buy Sony's Gaming devisions and leave the rest to bleed.

Nintendo do not need SCE or any one of their studios tbh.

However,if there is a company (let Say Daewoo, Samsung,LG,Avaya or Philips )that want a fast and easy access to the growing games market then they can buy PlayStation and SCE for a couple of billions from Sony (and I doubt that Sony will/can refuse a deal like that).

 

[Carl]

going like this I give them 5 years at best.

but More if they shut down their HDTV division and sold PlayStation/SCE to some other company (like Samsung), the rest of the company should just focus only on DSLR and laptops if they want to survive.

Sell off one of their most profitable divisions? Great way to turn a profit.

 

[H_Prestige]

Indeed. Sony's biggest first party game in Japan was GT, but even that has failed them now. I don't see them reversing this trend any time soon either. They don't control any of the big Japanese franchises (FF, KH, DQ, MH, Mario) and I don't see them getting control of any of those soon.

Sony really should have bought Squaresoft when they were about to go under.

 

[OldJadedGamer]

Sell off one of their most profitable divisions? Great way to turn a profit.

SCEI would be the last division they sold off. I would dare to say they would sell off Sony Pictures before Sony Computer Entertainment.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

I guess making money is not reason enough.

And they stand to make a lot more money by remaining a platform holder that charges licensing fees on all software sold than they do by going third party.

Their first party offerings also stand to make a lot more money by not having to pay that licensing fee to another platform holder.

Sega didn't become a shell of their former self because they dropped out of the hardware business, they dropped out of the hardware business because of deeply rooted problems that caused them to loose touch with the market and eventually become a shell of their former self. It's not far from the direction Sony is heading now. I wouldn't want to see them go, but the industry would adapt, it always does.

During the Dreamcast days, their software was NOT the problem. They had quality and as far as I'm aware the software was selling fairly well. But in the end they couldn't compete with Sony, Nintendo, and an emerging Microsoft entering the market.

Also, Sony is nowhere near where Sega was. Sony's problems aren't with their gaming division, which has been profitable for quite some time, it's with their TV division which is bleeding the company. In terms of market presence, Sony has considerable marketshare globally w/ the PS3. The videogame division is one of the few bright spots in Sony's corporate arsenal right now.

And yes, the industry does adapt, but it's never the same otherwise. Sega had top-notch, unique content that has been sorely missed since the Dreamcast days. If Sony's studios were to similarly erode, that would be a huge blow to the industry and to gamers.

 

[Psychotext]

Sell off one of their most profitable divisions? Great way to turn a profit.

Many companies do just this when they're struggling to survive. It's somewhat more difficult (and far less lucrative) to get anyone to buy your unprofitable segments.

 

[bigtroyjon]

Also, Sony is nowhere near where Sega was. Sony's problems aren't with their gaming division, which has been profitable for quite some time, it's with their TV division which is bleeding the company. In terms of market presence, Sony has considerable marketshare globally w/ the PS3. The videogame division is one of the few bright spots in Sony's corporate arsenal right now.

Only Sony could lose billions and billions on something, then make a few hundred million and call that a bright spot.

 

[shinra-bansho]

Many companies do just this when they're struggling to survive. It's somewhat more difficult (and far less lucrative) to get anyone to buy your unprofitable segments.

Presumably, it's only really a viable strategy though if the proceeds of sale can be used to turn the remaining segments profitable.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Only Sony could lose billions and billions on something, then make a few hundred million and call that a bright spot.

Investors don't give much of a rats ass today about how many billions of dollars were wasted on the PS4 project due to poor decisions and mismanagement years ago unless the decisions that led to those losses are likely to be repeated in the future (and they're not). Those losses have already been accounted for a long time ago.

Microsoft still isn't anywhere near the black on the Xbox project as a whole, but it's most certainly the best thing that's ever come out of their entertainment division and has plenty of profitable years ahead of it with no end in sight.

All that matters is the ability for a particular division to generate earnings going forward. For Sony's gaming division, this is likely to continue. For Sony's television division? Cannot happen without steep cuts and huge structural changes to adapt to that competitive market place.

 

[Combichristoffersen]

Investors don't give much of a rats ass today about how many billions of dollars were wasted on the PS4 project due to poor decisions and mismanagement years ago unless the decisions that led to those losses are likely to be repeated in the future (and they're not). Those losses have already been accounted for a long time ago.

Microsoft still isn't anywhere near the black on the Xbox project as a whole, but it's most certainly the best thing that's ever come out of their entertainment division and has plenty of profitable years ahead of it with no end in sight.

All that matters is the ability for a particular division to generate earnings going forward. For Sony's gaming division, this is likely to continue. For Sony's television division? Cannot happen without steep cuts and huge structural changes to adapt to that competitive market place.

Didn't the Xbox project as a whole get into the black a year or two ago?

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Didn't the Xbox project as a whole get into the black a year or two ago?

Only the Xbox 360 project. Still plenty of ways to go before the project will recoup what was also lost during the Xbox 1 era.

But it shouldn't be too many more years before that happens.

 

[bigtroyjon]

Investors don't give much of a rats ass today about how many billions of dollars were wasted on the PS4 project due to poor decisions and mismanagement years ago unless the decisions that led to those losses are likely to be repeated in the future (and they're not). Those losses have already been accounted for a long time ago.

Microsoft still isn't anywhere near the black on the Xbox project as a whole, but it's most certainly the best thing that's ever come out of their entertainment division and has plenty of profitable years ahead of it with no end in sight.

All that matters is the ability for a particular division to generate earnings going forward. For Sony's gaming division, this is likely to continue. For Sony's television division? Cannot happen without steep cuts and huge structural changes to adapt to that competitive market place.

Making a few hundred million after losing money for 5 years isn't really something that will be looked at in a positive light when they finalize their business plans for next gen. Even if we only look back 3 years, they are still heavily in the red on their game unit.

 

[Rubenov]

Only the Xbox 360 project. Still plenty of ways to go before the project will recoup what was also lost during the Xbox 1 era.

But it shouldn't be too many more years before that happens.

Need sources if you are going to make these claims.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

Making a few hundred million after losing money for 5 years isn't really something that will be looked at in a positive light when they finalize their business plans for next gen. Even if we only look back 3 years, they are still heavily in the red on their game unit.

Source on these stats?

 

[bigtroyjon]

Source on these stats?

http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/financial/fr/index.html

 

[Pinzer]

http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/financial/fr/index.html

Those don't single out the games business, they are lumped together with other parts of Sony, so we don't know exactly.

 

[shinra-bansho]

Need sources if you are going to make these claims.

Prior to the merger with mobile the Home & Entertainment Division; which largely consisted of XBOX made losses of $4B over four years. Forbes. Although this division also included PC games and I'm not sure what other home products.

After the merger into EDD, the waters are muddied further with other loss making projects. In FY 2007 $1.2B of the $1.9B loss was apparently predominantly caused by the RROD.

The total losses probably exceed this combined ~$5B though as the 360 wasn't sold at a profit at launch.

2008 was the first year the division housing XBOX made an annual profit.

 

[bigtroyjon]

Those don't single out the games business, they are lumped together with other parts of Sony, so we don't know exactly.

They did prior to the 09FY, then in the 09 FY mentioned the game business deteriorated over the prior year giving us a pretty good idea of where most of the losses in the division came from.

Last 2 years are up in the air but it's really unlikely based on what we know and the comments they've made, that they made enough money to cover the 09FY losses.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

They did prior to the 09FY, then in the 09 FY mentioned the game business deteriorated over the prior year giving us a pretty good idea of where most of the losses in the division came from.

Last 2 years are up in the air but it's really unlikely based on what we know and the comments they've made, that they made enough money to cover the 09FY losses.

2009 they incurred 893 million in losses for gaming

2010 they incurred 429 million in profits for gaming

2011 data is largely unreliable because they lumped gaming in with TV, which has been their biggest loser. Given 2010's numbers, however, and comparing that to where they were a year prior, and I'd be surprised if they didn't turn a similar profit, if not slightly lower. But that would bring them about even over the three year period.

The bottom line is that it's tending positive, so yes, that does constitute a "bright spot" for Sony's businesses.

 

[bigtroyjon]

2009 they incurred 893 million in losses for gaming

2010 they incurred 429 million in profits for gaming

2011 data is largely unreliable because they lumped gaming in with TV, which has been their biggest loser.

And we know that 2011 was worse than 2010 for gaming due their comments in the writeup on the division.

Like I said, they haven't even been able to make up for the losses in 2009, the last 3 years are in the red.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

And we know that 2011 was worse than 2010 for gaming due their comments in the writeup on the division.

Like I said, they haven't even been able to make up for the losses in 2009, the last 3 years are in the red.

Ok, so it's weaker, but we don't know how much. I still wouldn't consider it 'heavily in the red' for the three year period.

I also don't see how being profitable to the tune of hundreds of million per year (what it's trending now) is somehow NOT a bright spot.

 

[Pinzer]

I've been pretty surprised at the slowdown in gaming overall in the past year or so. Are they not cutting prices fast enough? Is interest dying?

 

[shinra-bansho]

Sony's Game segment losses:

FY06 - 232.3B yen
FY07 - 124.5B yen
FY08 - 58.5B yen

Not sure where the 09 and 10 numbers above are from. In FY09/10 game was mixed with VAIO, Walkman, other products. The game segment was stated as profitable in fiscal '10.

 

[bigtroyjon]

Ok, so it's weaker, but we don't know how much. I still wouldn't consider it 'heavily in the red' for the three year period.

I also don't see how being profitable to the tune of hundreds of million per year (what it's trending now) is somehow NOT a bright spot.

If they were still growing the business and increasing profits then I could see it as a bright spot. The problem is that revenue, profit and until sales have all decreased after appearing to peak in 2010.

It's a terrible peak and things are headed in the wrong direction with more losses looming on the horizon as we hit a new console cycle.

 

[James Sawyer Ford]

If they were still growing the business and increasing profits then I could see it as a bright spot. The problem is that revenue, profit and until sales have all decreased after appearing to peak in 2010.

It's a terrible peak and things are headed in the wrong direction with more losses looming on the horizon as we hit a new console cycle.

This is an across the board trend. The generation has already peaked and is a normal part of the gaming console lifecycle, especially this many years after the generation's launch.

It doesn't speak to any doom and gloom for next gen at all.

 

[Averon]

http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/info/strategy2012/index.html#block0

The presentation slides are up. The live conference is in 90 minutes.

 

[coldfoot]

http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/info/strategy2012/index.html#block0

The presentation slides are up. The live conference is in 90 minutes.

Looks like same old Sony to me. Not one mention of ecosystem or transfer of software development to Silicon Valley. Still don't understand that the key to success is through increasing sales.
Only smart thing I saw there was the medical device market, profit margins on those must be very good.

 

[noobie]

http://www.sony.net/SonyInfo/IR/info/strategy2012/index.html#block0

The presentation slides are up. The live conference is in 90 minutes.

The only thing in powerpoint is that PS3 & PS VITA are profitable for Sony..

The plan over all is a bit too ambitious i believe.

But if we look seperately on each division i believe its only TV business & probably mobile business which is hurting them in a big way.. Gaming, Financial Service, Medical, Imaging are all profitable.. so its good that Sony is finally bringing these thing into more forefront..

Lets see how well they execute cuz Stringer failed in execution miserably.

 

[Alebrije]

Sony is doomed , at least on the Tv business...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dY_ADCTBKVE&feature=player_embedded#!

 

[popeutlal]

Sony's latest money waster, for $150 you can get the following:

http://www.androidcentral.com/sonys-smartwatch-now-available-us-150

SmartWatch connects to your Android-powered smartphone via Bluetooth and pushed incoming texts, emails, and call notifications to your wrist for fast and easy access. The SmartWatch will ship with Facebook, Twitter, Gmail, a weather widget, and a music player, though it is compatible with a number of current Android apps.

 

[Raoh]

Not sure I agree as most first party MS games are huge sellers. I mean Gears of War 1 sold to 1/3 of all owners of the system! 33% of all people bought that title and Halos constantly push over 3 million units in just their first months of sales so whatever MS is doing with their first party titles obviously is working since customers are buying the games in droves.

The PS3 version of Unreal Tournament was a horrible seller and getting the mods into the game were a pain in the ass. You couldn't even use the web browser of the PS3 to do it, you were forced to have a computer. It was a huge pain in the ass and never took off because of how complicated it was to the end user.

Point still stands that if Sony left the gaming industry, we would still see these games being made if not by MS than another company. Look at Bungie, made great games as a first party and now will make great games as a third party.

I don't mean sales wise I mean added value and features. Some of our favorite games don't always sell well.

I try not to use sales as an argument. cod can sell 3 million units, that's great, but that means there are about 90million console owners that don't care for the game. I just know I'd like to see more features used, sixaxis, voice commands, pc mods for consoles, partial and/or full installs, open networks, services syncing like steam/psn, etc

 

[OldJadedGamer]

I don't mean sales wise I mean added value and features. Some of our favorite games don't always sell well.

I try not to use sales as an argument. cod can sell 3 million units, that's great, but that means there are about 90million console owners that don't care for the game. I just know I'd like to see more features used, sixaxis, voice commands, pc mods for consoles, partial and/or full installs, open networks, services syncing like steam/psn, etc

This is a thread about sales and money earned/lost and what they can do to turn it around. You are in the wrong thread if you aren't talking about sales since the lack of has put Sony in the position they are in. Supporting all kinds of things is great but in the end, they are a business and need to make money.

 

[Totobeni]

Sony's latest money waster, for $150 you can get the following:

http://www.androidcentral.com/sonys-smartwatch-now-available-us-150

Lol, I don't know why Sony Electronics do this, they made tons of expensive and completely weird products that has absolutely zero market ( VPT and 7.1 headphones, Rolly,Smart Radio/Oneseg-radio,PSX DVR, Mylo, Bloggie 3D,Aibo,that stupid 3D HD Binoculars..ect) instead of focusing on what people want to buy.

 

[AndrewDean84xX]

Sony's latest money waster, for $150 you can get the following:

http://www.androidcentral.com/sonys-smartwatch-now-available-us-150

Are you fucking kidding me? Who would buy that? It's no wonder the sony brand is failing.